Ancient and Modern Idolatry
Few writers have understood more clearly or have set forth more plainly the true character of popery than Rev. J. A. Wylie, the author of “The History of Protestantism.” The following paragraph from his writings will be of special interest in connection with the study of the prophecies in the seventh chapter of Daniel. It may be regarded as a supplemental note to this week’s study in the gospel message found in the Editorial department:— All idolatries, in whatever age or country they have existed, are to be viewed but as successive developments of the one grand apostasy. That apostasy was commenced in Eden, and consummated at Rome. It had its rise in the plucking of the forbidden fruit; and it attained its acme in the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome,—Christ’s vicar on earth. The thought that he would “be as God” led man to commit the first sin; and that sin was perfected when the pope “exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” Popery is but the natural development of this great original transgression. It is just the early idolatries ripened and perfected. It is manifestly an enormous expansion of the same intensely malignant and fearfully destructive principle which these idolatries contained. The ancient Chaldean worshiping the sun, the Greek deifying the powers of nature, and the Roman exalting the race of primeval men into gods, are but varied manifestations of the same evil principle, namely, the utter alienation of the heart from God,—its proneness to hide itself amid the darkness of its own corrupt imaginations, and to become a god unto itself. That principle received the most fearful development which appears possible on earth, in the mystery of iniquity which came to be seated on the seven hills; for therein man deified himself, became God, nay, arrogated powers which lifted him high above God. Popery is the last, the most matured, the most subtle, the most skillfully contrived, and the most essentially diabolical form of idolatry which the world ever saw, or which, there is reason to believe, it ever will see. The evil principle which underlies the whole system of popery is common to unregenerated human nature; and the acme of Satan’s deceptive art is manifested in so covering this principle under a pretense of loyalty to the principles of the kingdom of God that popery, either as manifested in the system known as the papacy or in the experience of any individual, shall pass muster as genuine Christianity. We need to-day to consider the inspired inquiry, “What agreement hath the temple of God with idols?” and to heed the earnest injunction, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”